Thursday, November 5, 2020

Challenging The Old Order

 The Quebec Referendum of 1995 is as close as the country ever came to breaking up.


There are French speaking communities beyond Quebec, especially the Acadians of New Brunswick. This is the Acadian flag.


The next thematic area is about multiculturalism and diversity. One of the installations here is by a Yemeni-Canadian artist, Laila Binbrek, titled Mirror, Mirror. Two makeup counters back to back feature both sides of her cultural background, Middle Eastern and of the West.


Viola Desmond, a black businesswoman in Nova Scotia, confronted the segregation policy of a movie theatre in 1946. Today she's on the Canadian ten dollar bill.


Accessibility for the disabled is explored here as well, with artifacts that include sledge hockey sticks for paralympian sports, and a model of an accessible playground. We'll pick up here tomorrow.

26 comments:

  1. I learned again a bit of Canadian history ! I remember when there was the "war" between Quebec and the rest ! And they screemed "Vive le Quebec libre" but I didn't remember the date !

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  2. In New Brunswick I´d rather expect German... says Henry.
    Interesting with the mirror. I could never imagine to have anything like that! Sounds pretty "narcissistic". I remember a girl in school. She looked like she fell into a paint-studio. Every morning she invested an hour (!) for her make up.

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  3. There is so much history to learn, these exhibits are great!
    Take care, enjoy your day!

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  4. This is the human nature: first we gather in groups and then we would like to part from each other...

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  5. Very interesting post, William. I enjoyed reading about Laila and Viola especially.

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  6. ...and a wonder how united the United States will remain.

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  7. The Evangeline area of western PEI is Acadian too. We have French schools here on the island.

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  8. Interesting read William, Mirror Mirror is a fascinating piece of historical art. There was/is a movement that thinks Western Australia should divorce the rest of Oz 😉

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  9. That make-up display is fascinating. I wouldn't have thought of those differences.

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  10. I'm always thrilled when I get one of the new $10 bills!

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  11. @Gattina: it's been a long process.

    @Iris: I liked the concept of it.

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Italiafinlandia: true.

    @Susie: thank you!

    @Tom: we'll find out.

    @Marie: there's a strong Acadian legacy in the east.

    @Grace: I'm not a fan of separatism. At present there's sentiment in that regard out west, and stoked by a vindictive little man who knows he'll never be a prime minister of Canada, so why not a prime minister of Alberta?

    @Sharon: it's a sharp contrast.

    @Bill: thank you!

    @RedPat: me too.

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  12. I remember those days of divide.
    Feels like that is what is happening in America.

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  13. Separatism is rarely good ~ great post and photos ~ glad to hear a black woman has her photo on Canadian currency ~ more advanced than the USA ~

    Live each moment with love,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. All these illustrious people sure need a place in history.

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  15. Thank you for sharing these exhibits. They are always very interesting.

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  16. William - the Mirror, Mirror installation is a very clever way to illustrate this message. Love it!

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  17. @Maywyn: I can see that.

    @Carol: Viola is a good choice. If they switch another denomination for a new one, I'd love to see Oscar Peterson on money.

    @Magiceye: indeed.

    @Denise: you're welcome.

    @Angie: I thought so too.

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  18. I admittedly didn't educate myself previously about Viola Desmond, thanks for this!

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  19. can not imagine having folks like at my makeup location. that is so funny to me. have a great day! ( ;

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  20. Thank you for another extremely interesting post.

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  21. The paraolympian hockey sticks and that exhibit really interests me. And you guys DO have the best flag in the world!

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